The Seattle Mariners acquired Blue Jays slugger Teoscar Hernandez in a trade with the Toronto Blue Jays Late Wednesday, adding to a lineup in need of right handed power. Hernandez .267/25/77 will certainly fill that bill.
Right-handed reliever Erik Swanson (1.68) ERA and 70 K in 54 innings last year and left-handed High A-ball pitching prospect Adam Macko 3.99 era were sent east to the Blue Jays, whose bullpen issues during the 2022 season blew up last post-season (8.10) series loss to these same Mariners.
Toronto's willingness to deal Hernandez has more to do with his contract status than the quality of his play. the two time silver slugger is set to earn around 14 million this year after arbitration and will be a free agent at the end of the 2023 season.
Maco could be a help for the Jays down the pike but Swanson really came on last season. And will bolster a Toronto pen with a fastball that sits in the low to mid 90’s and a splitter that gets more than its fair share of swings and misses. That something the Jays sorely need.
